Writing Excerpts

These are short stories, poems, images and scenes based on writing or picture prompts. Please understand that all of the following is the work of Heather Reilly, and has been copyrighted as such. Please do not copy or use any of the writing or images here without express permission from the author. If you are seeking permission, please click on the email link on the left hand side, to contact us via email.

Jaxon was trying very hard to seem as calm as everyone else, but the waiting was just so difficult. He subconsciously began bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. It was a nervous habit, and those on board the ship had come to read that sign very well; it was almost time for action.“Here they come, right on time,” Jaxon remarked, “how is our cloaking device holding?”“Cloak holding, sir,” his officer answered.“We’re going to silent, start the clock.” the boy ordered.The instrument panel that normally bleeped as it ran co-ordinates was switched off. The screen that usually showed the start-date and time was counting down in Croyan, the common language, for all to see. The moment they were waiting for was drawing near, and each second seemed to be moving as slow as molasses. 00:49, 00:48, 00:47…Jaxon turned his attention back to the main screen. The eclipse was almost complete. In a few short moments, when the clock hit zero, all natural light would be blackened, like the ink of an ancient dynasty on an almost forgotten planet called Earth. That would be their moment. The ship didn’t have enough power left to use the tracking beam and cloaking device at the same time, and with the Muklanders hot on their trail, Jaxon couldn’t risk dropping the cloak on the ship without finding another form of cover. The eclipse was it. It was this type of genius thinking outside the box that had made the boy their commander.00:36, 00:35, 00:34…The Muklander vessel began scanning the planet below for signs of life. Jaxon held his breath, this was the part that would make them or break them. Due to the wide use of cloaking devices, the Muklander slaving ships had begun to use sound scanners to detect their prey. Jaxon prayed fervently that his people on the planet remembered to stay silent; they just had to, especially when they were so close. His eyes flicked to the time piece.00:23, 00:22, 00:21…Jaxon had received the long-searched for co-ordinates of the planet that his people had been forced to flee to, and he had paid dearly for them. But the problem with finding good information for sale was that it was always on the table. At least the knowledge-dealer had given them a head start before selling the information again to the slavers. He hoped the small balding man had gotten a good price for it, but knowing the Muklanders, it was just as likely that the man was now a prisoner on board.00:10, 00:09, 00:08…The blue searchlights of the slave ship passed back and forth over the rough terrain of the planet. Every time they stopped for more than a second, Jaxon’s heart leapt up into his throat. He raised his hand to signal his crew. His officer locked onto their people on the planet. The boy’s parents were among them. He waited, filled with hope, counting.00:03, 00:02, 00:01.

I often like writing in verse. This poem/ballad was inspired by the Noble Artist's March Sci-fi picture. It was accompanied by the caption: "Knowing when to hold 'em and knowing when to fold 'em comes easy to the Forgiani who also happen to be psychic."

We sat down, and the ship,At a slow-moving clip,Carried smugglers and bandits galore,We had hours to kill,And a gambling will,And a game with Forgiani was never a bore.

If at all, you did snooze,It was easy to lose,To a race that was psychic and mean,Sitting with the rough sot,Who had gambled a lot,Made me feel like a ruffian, all lip, but so green.

When he threw down an Ace,I was in a good place,I held four of a kind in my hand,But my four were all aces,And the sly, knowing facesOf people around me proved that I was damned.

I knew not what to do,So my Aces I threw,Onto the table face down,And he took all my money,Laughed like it was funny,And I doubled my efforts to beat that damned clown.

I poured him a shot,While my temper ran hot,And he dealt the next hand in the round,I would barter and bluff,Act all surly and tough,Until he was wasted and slurred every sound.

With each new poured drink,It was harder to think, For the white-shirted foe that I played,And now each unclear word,Proved his “vision” was blurred,So I knocked for a card, then I stayed.

He held onto the table,Now, not very stable,As he squinted and blinked both his eyes,He glanced at his blade,While he pulled out a spade,That I swear he had hidden between his thick thighs.He played his new card,I just stared at it hard,And began to sweat there in my seat,For worse than a loss,Your life was a coin toss,When accusing a Forgiani of being a cheat.

Then came Bella, my girl,The fair daughter of Earl,And the reason this match came about,Big Earl had insisted,So I had enlisted,To play for her hand, and to curry some clout.

I said “Earl, you have cheated,And are therefore defeated,”And Bella’s breath caught in her throat.He stood and said “Son,It is true, you have won,Now give us a hug here, you salty old goat!”

I went round the table,And was barely just able,To support the great weight of the man,The captain was brought,We were wed on the spot,I was happy one moment, then suddenly, Bam!

When I finally came to,There was nothing to do,But struggle against my tight bonds,My Bella drew near,On her lips, a mean sneer,Her eyes held no love there, black fathomless ponds.

She kissed my left cheek,Saying “Boy, you were weak,Understand, this was not my first time,This is how I got rich,Getting married’s a bitch,For whatever was yours is now mine.”

The last thing that I saw,Was the great gaping maw,Of the airlock as they threw me out…

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